Why is meditation highly emphasised in Buddhism?

Why does meditation play such a paramount role in Buddhism. Ven. Dr. H. Gunaratana defines meditation and elaborates on the ramification of medication. Benefits so gained are stated down categorically.
This Q&A is part of a presentation held in 1997 at the Buddhist Missionary Society, KL.
Although Buddhism is the religion of nearly one fifth of the world's population, there are many misunderstandings about its Doctrine and Practice. The most Venerable Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda Nayaka Maha Thera together with Ven. Dr, H. Gunaratana, Ven. K. Wimalajothi and Ven. Wimala answered various questions put to them by a panel of well-known Buddhist leaders.

[@thekarmafarmer608]

Wow! What a meaningful and concise answer he still gave.

[@kuekyongchong6158]

BUDDHAM SARANAM GACHAMI, DHAMMAM SARANAM GACHAMI, SANGHAM SARANAM GACHAMI. Glad to be a buddhist.

[@virendrakumarraut2984]

Vandami bhanteji🙏🙏🙏 Sadhu sadhu sadhu🙏🙏🙏

[@janakiebalasuriya1032]

Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu! Theruwan Saranai! 🙏🙏🙏

[@raymondharvey1821]

It's not until you do a lot of work that you can truly understand the importance of meditation.

[@bhavanawaira3668]

Excellent explanation about meditation.... Sadhu sadhu sadhu......

[@blackhunk2265]

Namo Buddhay! Truth and detail explained.

[@mannysingh9186]

Very well explained can’t be explained any other way. Thanks

[@jyotishivanandrao2977]

May all beings be happy Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu With lots of Love and Metta to all beings and non beings to this 31 realms Be happy

[@MeME-lq9tx]

🙏

[@nicholascage3699]

Venerable Bhante gurunatana full of confident..

[@MeME-lq9tx]

🙏🙏🙏

[@krakensl9351]

Well educated monk. Beautifully described the facts that relevant to the question.

[@teresacroft7464]

Wonderful answer. I would love to have this monk teach me in person.

[@bam111965]

He's still alive and teaches retreats.

[@judygd8749]

@@bam111965 Were you the one who said that you wanted everything to just stop

[@bam111965]

@@judygd8749 I'm not sure where I might have said that which makes you ask the question, but cessation is my goal and has been for quite a while. I am sure I have said that I just want everything to stop many times.

[@judygd8749]

@@bam111965 I saw your comment very recently..I will check..Buddhism is so true to the core..Live a simple life..de-clutter your life..Remove the ego totally..Do good..And you will be happy

[@bam111965]

@@judygd8749 the problem with wishing for it to all be over is that cessation is not obtained by wishing and not getting what one wants is suffering. I just learned that from a Sutta. :-)

[@user-gh6ik2nt2n]

Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

[@sivakumarv8888]

Wonderful. well said.

[@Joe45011]

Very well said Bhante.

[@malwee9363]

🙏🙏🙏

[@sebatian3763]

Nice

[@jessicalang7320]

Meditate to get rid of psychic irritants? Did Buddha mentioned psychic irritants? And if he did, where in Pali Canon?

[@ericdravennevermore2566]

It's simple, means plainly toxic distractions that keeps us spiritually unclean & impure

[@aniljamdade2302]

Yes.. Vipassana meditation is only way to emancipation of sufferings.....and got it Nirvana....or enlightenment....

[@srinivasanvijayaraghavan591]

There is no one is equal to buddh

[@alijalasharada5720]

Yes working with body sensations...that is called vipassana

[@Dr_Tesla_]

Can anyone tell me the name these Bhante??

[@kimhenglim5380]

Ven. Dr. H. Gunaratana

[@sr2665yt]

Angulimala, Suneetha and many others achieved enlightenment without any practice of meditation. Doesn’t these incidents pose a question to the importance of meditation. Meditation is important to capture incoming sensory inputs and thoughts to process them in a control manner.

[@nicholasgrover2558]

🙏🏻